Pneumatic control device

ABSTRACT

A pneumatic control device for automatic charging of containers placed on a weighing machine with one or more substances. The control device comprises a manually operable starting valve actuating a delay circuit to operate the weighing machine. After this, a delay circuit together with a shutoff valve controlled by the weighing machine and arranged in a weighing valve circuit actuate a main valve in one of the supplying conduits, selected by an alternating or selecting circuit. Having charged all the determined substances the control device is reset to the initial position by a reset circuit giving an impulse to the starting valve.

O United States Patent 1151 3,636,994 Llll eforss 1 1 Jan. 25, 1972 1 1PNEUMATIC CONTROL DEVICE 1 Referenm Cited [72] Inventor: Gustaf LennartLilljeiorss, Lidingo, UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 swede 2,931,614 4/1960Charcuset et al. ..177/118 [73] Assignee: AGA Aktiebolag, Lidingo,Sweden 3,297,061 1/1967 Nimee ..177/1l6 [22] Fllcd: 1970 PrimaryExaminer-Houston S. Bcll,Jr. [21 App]. No.: 19,738 Attorney-Larson andTaylor 57 ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data l A pneumaticcontrol device for automatic charging of con- Mar. I5, 1969 Sweden..3526/69 miners placed on a weighing machine i one or more stances. Thecontrol device comprises a manually operable [2?] :J.S.:|l ..14l/83,177/105, 177/136 Starting valve actuating a delay circuit to operate theweighing [58] Fol. ..B65b 1/32, 1365b 3/28 1 machine After this a delaycircuit together with a shutoff 1 0 141/83, 359; 177/105 H6, valvecontrolled by the weighing machine and arranged in a weighing valvecircuit actuate a main valve in one of the supplying conduits, selectedby an alternating or selecting circuit. Having charged all thedetermined substances the control device is reset to the initialposition by a reset circuit giving an impulse to the starting valve.

1 1 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures MEC 10 ,8 11 9-" c l PATENTED M25197?31636394 SHEET 3 [IF 4 INVENTOR GUSTAF L. LILLJEFORSS ATTORNEYSPATENTEDmzSmesum u 0r 4 INVENTOR GUSTA F L. LILLJEFORSS PNEUMATICCONTROL DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to apneumatic controldevice for automatic charging of containers with one ormore substances supplied through one or more supply conduits.

In connection with the automatic charging of containers, when controldevices of the type referred to were used, the charging process wasconventionally started mechanically and was terminated by the weighingmachine being of the linear type. This has certain disadvantages, whichmade it possible to use automatic charging of containers only in somevery special processes. One drawback is that the operator attending tothe starting of the process must place the container very accurately inthe charging station so as to make it stand completely on the weighingmachine. If it is not in correct position, the container may beovercharged and under extreme conditions the charging will not stopuntil this is done manually. A further considerable drawback is thatlinear weighing machines are expensive to manufacture. Another drawbackis that conventional control devices are not suitable for supplyingconsecutively a plurality of substances, for instance substances whichare to be mixed in the container but cannot be mixed before beingsupplied to the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thus, it is a purpose of this invention toprovide a new and improved control device which overcomes thedisadvantages of previous control devices used for charging containers.

The control device according to the invention is charac terized by amanually operable starting valve for rendering operable the weighingmachine and permitting actuation of a delay circuit, the actualactuation of the delay circuit occurring upon operation of the weighingmachine so as to open a main valve provided in each supply conduit forsupplying substances to the container, a two-way weighing valve beingprovided in response to the complete charging of the container to resetthe starting valve by means of a reset circuit, thereby closing thecorresponding main valve.

In' this manner there is obtained a simple and dependable control devicefor charging a container. An example of a weighing machine which issuitable for this purpose is the preadjustable linear weighing machineaccording to Swedish Pat. application No. 1 1554/67, which correspondsto U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 752,029, filed Aug. 12, I968, now US.Pat. No. 3,536,152.

In accordance with a main feature of the present invention, this controldevice is operable not only for a single substance but for supplyingconsecutively to a container a plurality of substances along separateconduits. This is especially important where the substances cannot bemixed before being introduced into the container. Further, a feature ofthe present invention is the provision of a control device which isapplicable to an unlimited number of substances each supplied from itsown conduit to the container. This advantage of the present invention ofsupplying a plurality of substances is provided by including in thecontrol device as described above a pneumatic alternating circuit or aswitching circuit between the delay circuit and the main valves. Thisalternating or switching circuit can take many different forms, some ofwhich are described below in the description of the preferredembodiments of the invention.

Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improvedcontrol device for supplying substances to a container.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improvedcontrol device for automatically supplying any number of substances,each through their own respective conduits, to a container.

It is another object of this invention to provide a pneumatic controldevice for supplying substances to a container, said device including astarting valve for commencing operation of the filling cycle andincluding a delaying means for delaying opening of the conduits from thesubstances to the container and including a reset means, operable inresponse to the filling of the container for resetting the said startingvalve.

It is another object of this invention to provide a pneumatic controldevice for automatically charging a plurality of substances to acontainer, each substance through a separate con duit, wherein thedevice includes a starting valve, a delay means which acts in responseto the starting valve to open the conduits to the container, a resetmeans operable in response to the filling of the container to reset thestarting valve, and a switching means between the delay means and theconduit valves for consecutively opening the respective conduits to thecontainer.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description to followtogether with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the inventionare described below with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. ,Lis a diagram of a control device for charging a container withone or more substances supplied through a supply conduit.

FIG. 2a is a diagram of a control device for consecutively supplying twosubstances through separate conduits.

FIG. 2b is a diagram of a modified form of the device according to FIG.2a.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a control device adapted for an unlimited numberof substances to be consecutively supplied through separate conduits.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The drawings show thevarious embodiments of control devices in connection with charging gasand liquid into containers. It is obvious that the control devices canbe used for charging containers of any type with liquid as well as gasesor solid substances. If the latter are of granular or powdery materialwhich can be conveyed in conduits, the fiow thereof can be controlled byvalves of the type described below. If the main valves to be describedbelow) are replaced by motoror vibrator driven conveyors or fluidizingpowder conveyors, the device is also able to handle solid substances ofcoarser structure.

The control device shown in FIG. 1 is adapted for charging a container 1with one or more substances supplied through a conduit 2. Provided insupply conduit 2 is a main valve 3 and a nonreturn valve 4. Container 1is secured in a weighing machine 5 shown schematically in said US. Pat.No. 3,536,152. In the original position, before beginning of thecharging process, the container is also supported by a verticallyadjustable table 6. The control device comprises a manual twowaystarting valve giwith pneumatic reset, The output conduit 23,, ofstarting valve 23 is connectable to the inlet 23,, which in its turn isconnected through a pressure conduit 12 or to drain 23,,, and is coupledto an arresting means 7 for releasing a counterweight (not shown) ofweighing machine 5 and also to a pneumatic cylinder 8 for adjustingtable 6. Table 6 forms part of a delay circuit 9 also comprising a chokevalve 11 and a control valve 10 with spring reset, which is mechanicallyactuated by table 6. The outlet 10,, of control valve is connectableeither to pressure conduit 12 at the inlet side 10, or to a drain 10,.Outlet 10,, is connected to a pressure chamber 13 for controlling mainvalve 3, which is spring-reset, and also to the inlet side 16, of acontrol valve 16 provided in a weighing valve circuit 14 which iscontrolled by weighing machine 5. Circuit 14 preferably comprises achoke valve 15 provided in control conduit 12,... which is connected topressure conduit 12. Control conduit 12,, is connected to control valve16 via a shutoff valve 17 controlled by weighing machine 5. Thepneumatically controlled control valve 16 is spring-reset and its output16,, is connectable to the inlet 16, or the drain I6 Output 16,,

is connected to a reset circuit 18 comprising a choke valve 20 and anaccumulator 21 provided in the control conduit 22 of a pneumaticallyactuated and spring reset valve 19, which is provided in the resetcircuit 18. The connection of reset circuit 18 with valve output 16,, isdivided, so that it is connected on the one hand with control conduit 22and on the other hand with the inlet 19, of valve 19. The output 19,, ofreset valve 19 is connectable either to the inlet 19, or to the drain19,,. Output 19,, is connected to the control conduit of starting valve23.

FIG. 1 shows the valves in their initial positions wherein pressurizedfluid is supplied through valve 23 to arresting means 7 and cylinder 8.After container 1 has been secured to weighing machine 5 and connectedto conduit 2, which is then closed by main valve 3, the weighing machineis preadjusted and manual starting valve 23 is pushed, whereuponarresting means 7 now connected to drain locks the counterweight in theposition corresponding to the preadjusted weight at the same time ascylinder 8 is connected to drain to lower table 6, so that the weighingmachine 5 takes up the entire weight of the container. When table 6passes mechanically controlled valve 10, it actuates it and causes mainvalve 3 to open as pressurized fluid passes through 12 and to 13. When acertain quantity of substance or substances has been charged into thecontainer, weighing machine 5 is balanced and thus acts to open shutoffvalve 17, whereby control valve 16 is actuated by pressurized fluidthrough 12, This causes accumulator 21 to supply pressure medium fromconduit 12 and valve 19 to be actuated, whereby pressure medium is alsosupplied to the control conduit of starting valve 23, which is thenreset. In the initial position of starting valve 23, the counterweightof weighing machine 5 is released by arresting means 7 and table 6 israised, control valve 10 being then placed in the initial position andthe pressure medium for actuation of main valve 3 being drained offthrough drain 10,, whereby main valve 3 is also reset. With machine 5 nolonger balanced, 17 closes and 16 is reset by the spring to theillustrated position. Valve 19, then having line 22 connected to drain,also resets.

FIG. 2a shows an embodiment of the control device according to theinvention for consecutively controlling a pair of substances A and B tobe charged into container 1. In FIG. 2a, as in all subsequent figures,details corresponding in function to those described with reference toFIG. 1 are designated correspondingly. The control device issupplemented with an alternating circuit 25 comprising a control valve26 and an auxiliary valve 27. Control valve 26 is pneumatically actuableby means of auxiliary valve 27 and has a spring reset. The control valve26 has an outlet 26,, connected to arresting means 7 and connectableeither to the inlet 26,, which is connected to output 23,, of startingvalve 23, or to the inlet 26,, connected to the output 27,, of auxiliaryvalve 27. Valve 27 is controlled pneumatically by starting valve 23 andweighing valve circuit 14. It has a pair of outputs 27,, and 27 whichare alternatively connectable to an inlet 27, and to a drain 27,,.Output 27 is connected to a chamber 13a to control main valve 3adescribed below and output 27,, is connected to the control conduit ofcontrol valve 26, one inlet 26,, of control valve 26 as well as to achamber 13b of a main valve 3,, described below. Inlet 27, is connectedto the output 10,, of control valve 10.

In the embodiment shown, supply conduit 2 is divided upstream of themain valve into a pair of branches 2,, and 2,, for one each ofsubstances A and B. Also, a drain conduit 24 is provided. The main valvealso comprises a pair of valves 3,, and 3,, for the two substances, andwhich are controlled by corresponding pressure chambers 13,, and 13,,and are provided with spring reset. Provided in one of the main conduitsis a choke valve 28 for preventing the pressure from decreasing inconduit 2,, to such an extent that the supply of medium A is interruptedto charging positions connected in parallel to the one shown and thecontainers of which have higher initial pressures. Main valve 3,, has anoutput 3,,, which is connectable either to the inlet 3,,, which isconnected to main conduit 2,,, or to the drain 3,,,,, which is connectedto drain conduit 24. Output 3,,, is connected to the drain 3,,, of mainvalve 3,. Main valve 3,, also has an output 3,,,,, which is connectableeither to the inlet 3,,, thereof connected to main conduit 2,, or to thedrain 3,,, thereof, which is connected to output 3,,, of main valve 3,,.Output 3,,, of main valve 3, is connected through one-way valve 4 toconduit 2 leading to container 1.

To operate the device of FIG. 2a, valve 23 is first pushed, whereby thesame sequence takes place as described in connection with FIG. 1, i.e.,arresting device 7 releases the coun terweight, table 6 is lowered andvalve 10 is actuated. Upon actuation of control valve 10, main valve 3,,is actuated through valves 10 and 27 and the charging of substance A incontainer 1 takes place up to a predetermined amount. After this,weighing machine 5 is balanced and thus opens shutoff valve 17 wherebyvalve 16 shifts to the right. This in turn permits pressure fluid toactuate auxiliary valve 27, causing movement of both main valves 3,, and3,,. Valve 3,, will drain through 27 and move to the position shown andvalve 3,, will be actuated in the opposite position to the one shown,for supplying medium B. Owing to the actuation of valve 16, twoadditional valve actuations take place: first, because of said actuationof valve 27, control valve 26 is actuated, causing the release of thecounterweight of weighing machine 5 by means of arresting means 7 aspressure is now supplied through 27 and 26 to 7; and, second, resetcircuit 18 is actuated. However, in view of the inherent delay thereofthis has no effect. This is so because when arresting means 7 isreleased, weighing machine 5 is again unbalanced, which closes shutoffvalve 17 and causes control valve 16 to be spring biased again to theshown position. However, this does not otherwise affect the controlvalve 26, since valve'27 remains in the actuated position since thepressure on both sides of auxiliary valve 27 is the same (both sides aredecompressed via 23,, and 16,).

When medium B has been supplied to container 1 up to a predeterminedamount, weighing machine 5 is again balanced, valve 17 opens, and valve16 is actuated to the right. This causes starting valve 23 to be resetby reset circuit 18, cylinder 8 raises table 6 as well as container 1,valve 10 closes and valve 17 closes again. Control valve 16 is thenbrought into the position shown and auxiliary valve 27 reassumes theposition shown, since an overpressure is now available in the actuatingconduit leading from starting valve 23. Line 22 is drained through 16,,so that 19 returns to the position shown. Main valve 3,, reassumes theposition shown and main valve 3,, remains in the position shown, so thatthe supply is entirely interrupted and the control device is back in theoriginal state prepared for a fresh charging process.

It is possible to remove control valve 26 from alternating circuit 25 ifarresting means 7 of weighing machine 5 is adapted to have frictioncontact with the preadjusting means already during the manualpreadjustment of the weighing machine. In this case, arresting means 7is coupled pneumatically to the conduit between pressure chamber 13,,and output 27, of valve 27. Outputs 27,, and 27,, of auxiliary valve 27have then changed places and the initial position of auxiliary valve 27is the opposite to the one shown in FIG. 2a.

Another simplification of the control device shown in FIG. 2a consistsin removal of reset valve 19, which is possible provided thataccumulator 21 has a capacity which is large enough.

FIG. 2b shows another embodiment of an automatic control device forcharging a pair of substances into a container according to theinvention. The control circuit has, as described above, a manualstarting valve designated in the present instance with 31, the pneumaticreset of which is controlled by reset circuit 18. Valve 31 has an inlet31,, connected to the conduit 12 for the pressure medium and the drain31,, having a pair of outputs 31,, and 31, The pressure medium inconduit 12 is hereby controlled completely by the control valve which inits closing position also shuts off conduit 12, the latter beingfurthermore connected between the output 31,, of the starting valve, theweighing valve circuit 14 and an inlet 10,, of the mechanically actuatedcontrol valve 10. The other output 31,, of the starting valve isconnected to one control conduit of the actuating valve 30 of thepneumatically controlled alternating circuit 25. Outputs 31,, and 31,,can be alternately connected to inlet 31,,. Output 31 in one positionthereof, is connected to drain 31,,. Starting valve 31 is provided withan additional inlet 31, which is connectable to drain 31,,.

Reset circuit 18 in FIG. 2b is of a somewhat modified construction,reset valve being constructed as a biased nonreturn valve 32 which opensonly when a certain pressure has been reached in accumulator 21. I

Delay circuit 9 is in principle constructed as in FIG. 2a. Themechanically controlled control valve 10, however, is provided, inaddition to inlet 10,, referred to above, with an additional inlet 10,,which is connected to the outlet 31,, of starting valve 31. Alsoprovided are a pair of outputs 10,, and 10 10,,, being connected to aninput 30,, of actuating valve 30 as well as via inlet 16,- and outlet16,, of control valve 16 to one control conduit of actuating valve 30.Output 10 is connected to arresting means 7 and via a choke valve to aconduit 33, which connects the chamber 13b of main valve 3,, with anoutput 30,,, of actuating valve 30 and through 30,,, to drain 10,, andinlet 31,-, of starting valve 31. Inlet 10,, is alternately connected tothe output 10,, or to drain 10,, and output 10,, is alternatelyconnectable to drain 10,, or to inlet 10,,.

Alternating circuit 25 in the embodiment described comprises only anentirely pneumatically actuated actuating valve 30 having two inlets30,, and 30, 30,, being connected to the reset circuit for startingvalve 31 and 30,, to output 10,, of control valve 10. Furthermore,actuating valve 30 comprises a drain 30,, and a pair of outputs 30,,,and 30 30,,, being connected to conduit 33 and 30,,, to the actuatingdevice of main valve 3,,. Inlet 30,, is alternatively connectable tooutput 30,,, or to output 30,,. Inlet 30,, is connectable in oneposition to drain 30,, and output 30,, is alternately connectable toinlet 30,, or to drain 30,,.

The operation of the control device of FIG. 2b is largely the same asthat described with reference to FIG. 2a. When starting valve 31 ispushed, 31,, is connected to drain 31,, whereby table 6 is lowered,causing container 1 to be suspended freely in weighing machine at thesame time as the arresting means 7. connected to drain through 10, 10,and 30,, retains the weight that had previously been adjusted. Controlvalve is actuated by table 6 when it is lowered, causing pressure mediumto be supplied from 31,,,, through output 10,, via inlet 30,, and output30,,, to the actuating device of main valve 3,,, the actuation of whichcauses substance A to be supplied through 3,, and line 2 to container 1.When a certain weight of substance A has been supplied, valve 17 opensand control valve 16 is actuated by pressure through l2,,,, causing animpulse to be supplied from 12 through l0,,, l0,,,, l6, and 16,, foractuation of actuating valve 30 to the right. Actuation of valve 30causes valve 3,, to be connected to drain through 30,,, and 30,, suchthat 3,, then assumes the position shown, and main valve 3,, receives animpulse through 30, and 30,,, causing it to assume the opposite positionto the one shown, whereupon substance B begins to be charged into thecontainer through 3,, and line 2. Simultaneously herewith, arrestingmeans 7 also receives pressure fluid from 30,,, and 33 and releases thearresting device of weighing machine 5 causing the same to be adjustedfor the predetermined weight of substance B and valve 17 again closes,causing spring actuation of control valve 16.

All of the functions referred to take place swiftly between the firstand second actuation of the control valve 16, so that starting valve 31is not reset owing to the fact that this is done with a certain delay indelay circuit 18.

When the predetermined amount of substance B has been charged. controlvalve 16 is again pressure actuated to the right, but nothing happensuntil accumulator 31 of delay circuit 18 builds up a sufficient pressureto open valve 32, thereby resetting valve 31. This causes conduit 33 tobe drained through drain 31,, and main valve 3,, is moved to theposition shown, whereby no supply to the container 1 can take place. Thereturn of starting valve 31 also supplies pressure to table 6 to raisethe same and control valve 10 is spring actuated to the left, causingthe other valves that have not yet been reset to be reset. For example,30 is now moved to the left by pressure from 31 on its right side as itsleft side is connected to drain 16,,. The control device is thenprepared for a fresh charging process.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the control device for subsequent chargingwith a plurality of substances A, B, C and D. The circuits of thecontrol device are in accordance with FIG. 2a with the exception ofalternating circuit 25, to which additions have been made. In additionto a preselection circuit 34 forming part of alternating circuit 25 anumber of auxiliary switching circuits 35 are provided, whose number isalways the number of substances to be charged into container 1 minusone.

Preselection circuit 34 comprises a pneumatically actuated preselectionvalve 36, the control circuit of which is connected to output 16,, ofcontrol valve 16. Connected to one side of the control circuit is adelay device 37. Preselection valve 36 comprises an inlet 36, connectedto output 10,, of control valve 10, an output 36,, connected to theinlet 38, of an auxiliary switching valve 38,, described below, as wellas a drain 36,,. Output 36,, can be connected alternately to inlet 36,and to drain 36,,.

Each auxiliary switching circuit 35 comprises, in addition to theauxiliary switching valve 38 referred to above, and which is actuatedpneumatically, a delay circuit 39 provided in one of the pneumaticcontrol conduits. Delay circuit 39,, is connected to the output 36,, ofpreselection valve 36. Valve 38,, comprises an inlet 38,,,, connected tothe output 36,, of preselection valve 36, a drain 38,,,, and a pair ofoutputs 38,,,,, and 38,,,,,. Output 38,,,,, is connected to the inlet38,, of the following auxiliary switching valve 38,, and output 38, tothe actuating device 13,, of the corresponding main valve 3,, as well asto the other actuating conduit of the same auxiliary switching valve38,,. Inlet 38,, is alternately connectable to outputs 38,,,,, and 38,these outputs being alternately connectable to inlet 38,,, as well as todrain 38,,,,. Preferably connected from delay circuits 39 are actuatingconduits 40 leading to weighing machine 5 for actuating stops providedon the preadjusting device of the same, the stops serving forpreadjustment of desired quantities of each substance to be charged intocontainer 1. No actuating conduit 40 has to be provided from the delaycircuit 39,, which is nearest to preselection circuit 34, since delaycircuit 39,, belongs to switching circuit 35,,, which is the first oneto open its corresponding main valve 3,,. Since it is the first one, itdoes not have to remove any stop on the preadjustment device providedfor weighing machine 5 for automatically cutting the supply of asubstance previous to substance A.

The operation of the control device of FIG. 3 is, during the first phasethereof, in accordance with that of the control device of FIG. 2adescribed above with respect to pushing valve 23 to actuate 7 and 6 andhence actuate valve 10. However, in this case, pressure fluid through10, rather than passing through 27 passes to valve 36, and through 36and 38 to 13,, to operate valve 3,,. During the supply of substance A,preselection valve 36 is in the position shown, in which the pressuremedium acts through 23, 10, 36 and 38,, on the actuating device of mainvalve 3,, as well as on the delay circuit 39,, of the correspondingauxiliary switching valve 38,, whereby main valve 3,, is moved to theleft to pass substance A. When substance A has been supplied in thedesired amount, valve 17 is opened to actuate valve 16 in the manneralready described, resulting in an impulse being applied first to theright side of preselection valve 36 placing it in the opposite positionto the one shown, and after a certain delay caused by 37 pressure isapplied to the left side of 36 replacing it to the position as shown. Inthe opposite position of preselection valve 36, chamber 13,, of mainvalve 3,, together with the lefthand actuating conduit of switchingvalve 38,, is drained via output 38m and inlet 38, causing a return ofthe main valve 3,, to the position shown. Owing to the delay of device39,,, the right-hand actuating conduit of auxiliary switching valve 38,,is not drained but the valve 38,, is actuated, i.e., moved to the left.The delays of devices 37,, and 39,, are related in such a way as to makeit possible for switching valve 38,, to be actuated without being resetbefore valve 36 has been reset.

When valve 36 has been reset, pressure medium is supplied to thefollowing auxiliary'switching valve 38,, and the chamber 13, of thecorresponding main valve 3,, is actuated for supply of substance B, atthe same time as the foregoing auxiliary switching valve 38,, remainsopen. This causes charging of the delay circuit 39, of the followingauxiliary switching valve 39,,, the stop which has been preadjustedcorresponding to the weight of substance A on the preadjusting device ofthe weighing machine being then removed, causing the preadjusting deviceof weighing machine to adjust itself in contact with another stop, whichhas been preadjusted corresponding to the weight of substance B.Weighing machine 5 then becomes unbalanced and control valve 17 isopened, permitting actuation of valve 16 as already described withreference to FIG. 2a. When substance B has been supplied in the desiredquantity, weighing machine 5 once again becomes balanced and the sameautomatic control process which was just described in connection withthe completed supply of substance A is now restarted with the followingauxiliary switching valve 38, with the corresponding main valve 3,. ltwill be apparent that it is possible in this manner to consecutivelycharge any number of substances to the container in an automatic mannerby simply supplying further circuits 35 and their associated parts.

As is apparent from the preferred embodiments of the invention describedabove, variations are possible within the scope of the claims. Forinstance, it is possible within the scope of the invention to usefluidistors or hydraulic components as control elements.

I claim:

l. A pneumatic control device for controlling the charging of acontainer with at least one substance supplied through at least oneconduit to the container, comprising, a preselected means forpreselecting desired quantities of said substance, a starting valvemovable at least between a rest position and an actuated position, aweighing means for supporting the weight of the container and having anoperative position and an inoperative position, said weighing meansbeing movable to its operative position in response to movement of thestarting valve to its actuated position, a delay circuit means operablein response to movement of the starting valve to its actuated positionand after a predetermined time delay to open a main valve to supply saidsubstance to the container through the conduit, said delay circuit meanscomprising a table which is adjustable vertically for supporting thecontainer before the weighing means is moved to its operative position,movement of the table being controlled by a fluid signal through thestarting valve to actuate a delay control valve provided in the delaycircuit means for supplying a fluid pressure signal to open the mainvalve, and a reset circuit means for returning the starting valve to itsrest position in response to the filling of said container with saidpreselected quantity, and means for closing the said main valve afterthe container has been filled with said preselected quantity.

2. A control device according to claim 1 including a plurality of saidconduits, each conduit supplying a substance to the container, one mainvalve being included to control each conduit.

3. A control device according to claim 2, including a switching circuitmeans operatively located between the delay circuit means and the mainvalves for providing consecutive actuation and resetting of the mainvalves to provide consecutive supply of substances through saidplurality of conduits to the container.

4. A control device according to claim 3, including a weighing valveactuated when the container is filled to said pre etermmed quantity, andwherein said switching circuit means includes a switching valve operatedby a pressure signal through the starting valve and another pressuresignal through the weighing valve.

5. A control device according to claim 3 including a weighing valveactuated when the container is filled to said predetermined quantity andwherein the number of main valves equals the number of conduitssupplying substance to the container, the main valve being pneumaticallyactuable two-way valves arranged to supply one substance at a time tothe container.

6. A control device according to claim 3, including a weighing valveactuated when the container is filled to said predetermined quantity,and wherein the switching circuit means comprises a manually actuabletwo-way valve with pneumatic reset in response to the weighing valve.

7. A control device according to claim 3, including a weighing valveactuated when the container is filled to said predetermined quantity,'and wherein the switching circuit means further includes a two-wayauxiliary valve controlled by fluid from the starting valve and fluidfrom the weighing valve, and a switching control valve with spring resetwhich is controlled by fluid from the auxiliary valve.

8. A control device according to claim 3, including a preselection valvefor delivering pressure fluid from the delay means to the switchingcircuit means, said switching circuit means including a number ofpneumatic two-way switch control valves arranged in a monostable manner,one switch control valve being provided for each manual valve and henceone for each conduit, each switch control valve having associatedtherewith an accumulator and a choke provided in the return circuit tothe control valve, the number of switch control valves being smaller byone than the number of conduits supplying substances to the container.

9. A control device according to claim 6, including a pneumaticdisconnecting means operatively connecting the weighing means and theswitch control valves to return each switch control valve when apreselected quantity of the substance supplied through the conduitassociated with that switch control valve have been supplied to thecontainer.

10. A control device according to claim 1, wherein the weighing meansincludes a weighing valve actuated when the container is filled to saidpredetermined quantity to deliver pressure fluid to said reset means,said pressure fluid being supplied to reset the starting valve through atwo-way resetting valve operated in the one direction by pressure fluidfrom the weighing valve supplied through a delaying accumulator and saidreset valve being spring actuated to the reset position.

11. A control device according to claim 1, including a weighing valveactuated when the container is filled to said predetermined quantity todeliver a signal, a plurality of said conduits, a main valve for eachconduit, said main valves being arranged such that the first substanceto be supplied passes through all of the said main valves, the secondsubstance to be supplied passes through the second and all subsequentmain valves, the third substance to be supplied passes through the thirdand all subsequent valves, and so on until the last substance to besupplied passes through only the last valve, an auxiliary switchingvalve operatively associated with each main valve, a preselection valvearranged to receive pressure fluid from the weighing valve and deliverthe same to the auxiliary switching valves, said preselection valvebeing controlled on the one hand by fluid received directly from thefirst said delay means and on the other hand by fluid receivedindirectly through a delaying device from the first said delay means,said auxiliary switching devices being operable in sequence to operatethe main valves in sequence and means connecting each auxiliaryswitching means to the weighing means in order to determine the point atwhich each auxiliary switching means will render its respective mainvalve inoperable and render operable the next main valve,

1. A pneumatic control device for controlling the charging of acontainer with at least one substance supplied through at least oneconduit to the container, comprising, a preselected means forpreselecting desired quantities of said substance, a starting valvemovable at least between a rest position and an actuated position, aweighing means for supporting the weight of the container and having anoperative position and an inoperative position, said weighing meansbeing movable to its operative position in response to movement of thestarting valve to its actuated position, a delay circuit means operablein response to movement of the starting valve to its actuated positionand after a predetermined time delay to open a main valve to supply saidsubstance to the container through the conduit, said delay circuit meanscomprising a table which is adjustable vertically for supporting thecontainer before the weighing means is moved to its operative position,movement of the table being controlled by a fluid signal through thestarting valve to actuate a delay control valve provided in the delaycircuit means for supplying a fluid pressure signal to open the mainvalve, and a reset circuit means for returning the starting valve to itsrest position in response to the filling of said container with saidpreselected quantity, and means for closing the said main valve afterthe container has been filled with said preselected quantity.
 2. Acontrol device according to claim 1 including a plurality of saidconduits, each conduit supplying a substance to the container, one mainvalve being included to control each conduit.
 3. A control deviceaccording to claim 2, including a switching circuit means operativelylocated between the delay circuit means and the main valves forproviding conseCutive actuation and resetting of the main valves toprovide consecutive supply of substances through said plurality ofconduits to the container.
 4. A control device according to claim 3,including a weighing valve actuated when the container is filled to saidpredetermined quantity, and wherein said switching circuit meansincludes a switching valve operated by a pressure signal through thestarting valve and another pressure signal through the weighing valve.5. A control device according to claim 3 including a weighing valveactuated when the container is filled to said predetermined quantity andwherein the number of main valves equals the number of conduitssupplying substance to the container, the main valve being pneumaticallyactuable two-way valves arranged to supply one substance at a time tothe container.
 6. A control device according to claim 3, including aweighing valve actuated when the container is filled to saidpredetermined quantity, and wherein the switching circuit meanscomprises a manually actuable two-way valve with pneumatic reset inresponse to the weighing valve.
 7. A control device according to claim3, including a weighing valve actuated when the container is filled tosaid predetermined quantity, and wherein the switching circuit meansfurther includes a two-way auxiliary valve controlled by fluid from thestarting valve and fluid from the weighing valve, and a switchingcontrol valve with spring reset which is controlled by fluid from theauxiliary valve.
 8. A control device according to claim 3, including apreselection valve for delivering pressure fluid from the delay means tothe switching circuit means, said switching circuit means including anumber of pneumatic two-way switch control valves arranged in amonostable manner, one switch control valve being provided for eachmanual valve and hence one for each conduit, each switch control valvehaving associated therewith an accumulator and a choke provided in thereturn circuit to the control valve, the number of switch control valvesbeing smaller by one than the number of conduits supplying substances tothe container.
 9. A control device according to claim 6, including apneumatic disconnecting means operatively connecting the weighing meansand the switch control valves to return each switch control valve when apreselected quantity of the substance supplied through the conduitassociated with that switch control valve have been supplied to thecontainer.
 10. A control device according to claim 1, wherein theweighing means includes a weighing valve actuated when the container isfilled to said predetermined quantity to deliver pressure fluid to saidreset means, said pressure fluid being supplied to reset the startingvalve through a two-way resetting valve operated in the one direction bypressure fluid from the weighing valve supplied through a delayingaccumulator and said reset valve being spring actuated to the resetposition.
 11. A control device according to claim 1, including aweighing valve actuated when the container is filled to saidpredetermined quantity to deliver a signal, a plurality of saidconduits, a main valve for each conduit, said main valves being arrangedsuch that the first substance to be supplied passes through all of thesaid main valves, the second substance to be supplied passes through thesecond and all subsequent main valves, the third substance to besupplied passes through the third and all subsequent valves, and so onuntil the last substance to be supplied passes through only the lastvalve, an auxiliary switching valve operatively associated with eachmain valve, a preselection valve arranged to receive pressure fluid fromthe weighing valve and deliver the same to the auxiliary switchingvalves, said preselection valve being controlled on the one hand byfluid received directly from the first said delay means and on the otherhand by fluid received indirectly through a delaying device from thefirst said delay means, said auxilIary switching devices being operablein sequence to operate the main valves in sequence and means connectingeach auxiliary switching means to the weighing means in order todetermine the point at which each auxiliary switching means will renderits respective main valve inoperable and render operable the next mainvalve.